Cigarette lighter with pivoting control member

ABSTRACT

A cigarette lighter with an ignition circuit including a piezoelectric crystal is actuated by a key pivotally supported on a housing wall for manual swinging in a predetermined direction from a normal position. The key carries two pairs of studs projecting from opposite sides thereof, the studs on each side being eccentrically disposed in angularly offset relationship as seen in the direction of swing. A striker confronting the piezoelectric crystal, urged toward the latter by a compression spring, is tied to a wire link having a hook-shaped extremity which straddles the key and engages the first pair of studs in the normal position. When the key is swung into its working position, these first studs initially entrain the link to compress the spring; toward the end of the swing, the second pair of studs bear upon the link and deflect it out of engagement with the first studs whereby the spring expands and drives the striker against the crystal.

llnited States Patent [191 Chevallier 1 Aug. 6, 1974 [75] Inventor: Pierre Chevallier,

Sainte-Foy-Les-Lyon, France [73] Assignees: Establissements Genoud & Cie;

Societe Anonyme, both of Venissieux, France [22] Filed: Apr. 5, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 348,108

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 14, 1972 France 7213881 [52] US Cl. 431/255 [51] Int. Cl. F23q 2/16 [58] Field of Search 431/255; 317/81; 310/87 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,493,313 2/1970 Schlamp 431/255 3,506,386 4/1970 Goto 431/255 3,724,993 4/1973 Goto 431/255 CIGARETTE LIGHTER WITH PIVOTING CONTROL MEMBER Primary Examiner-Edward G. Favors Attorney, Agent, or FirmKarl F. Ross; Herbert Dubno 5 7 ABSTRACT A cigarette lighter with an ignition circuit including a piezoelectric crystal is actuated by a key pivotally supported on a housing wall for manual swinging in a predetermined direction from a normal position. The key carries two pairs of studs projecting from opposite sides thereof, the studs on each side being eccentrically disposed in angularly offset relationship as seen in the direction of swing. A striker confronting the piezoelectric crystal, urged toward the latter by a compression spring, is tied to a wire link having a hookshaped extremity which straddles the key and engages the first pair of studs in the normal position. When the key is swung into its working position, these first studs initially entrain the link to compress the spring; toward the end of the swing, the second pair of studs bear upon the link and deflect it out of engagement with the first studs whereby the spring expands and drives the striker against the crystal.

\ 7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures HUHHU PAIENTED 61974 Fic s CIGARETTE LIGHTER-WITH PIVOTING CONTROL MEMBER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a piezoelectric lighter wherein the striker is operatively connected to a pivoting control member via a small reset and release linkage.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The object of my present invention is to provide a construction of this nature which is particularly simple to assemble,

According to the present invention, the pivoting member consists of a control key or lever carrying two studs disposed at eccentric and angularly offset locations, adapted to coact with the free end of a link having its other end anchored to the striker, this free end being positively engageable with one of the studs whereby a depression of the key entrains the link together with the striker until, after a given swing of that key, the link is deflected by the second stud and thus released from the first stud.

This invention is applicable to all types of piezoelectric lighters, notably but not exclusively to the type comprising an intermediate sliding member as described and illustrated in my prior US. patent application Ser. No. 348,107 filed on Apr. I973 by the same applicant,

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING A clearer understanding of this invention will be had if reference is made to the accompanying drawing illustrating diagrammatically, by way of example but not of limitation, showing the application of the present invention to a piezoelectric lighter of the type disclosed in my prior patent application. In the drawing:

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are general and fragmentary elevational and sectional views showing an actuating mechanism according to this invention in its inoperative position, in a triggering position immediately preceding a release of the striker, and in a working position immediately following such release, respectively; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 are similar views showing the upper portion of a lighter operating on gaseous fuel, with means for controlling the gas valve.

In the drawing, the reference numeral 1 designates a control lever or key adapted to swing through an angle of substantially 90 about a fixed pivot pin 2, with reference to the lighter housing. Key 1 is provided on its lateral surfaces with two pairs of studs 3 and 4, respectively, disposed eccentrically with respect to its fulcrum 2 and offset angularly from each other in the direction of swing.

The striker 5, adapted to be driven against a piezoelectric crystal 6 upon the expansion of a spring 7 anchored thereto is suspended from a link 8 coacting with studs 3 and 4.

For this purpose, the free end of link 8 is bent twice, as shown, to provide a hook-shaped detent 9 for engaging and retaining the stud 3.

Pivoting the key 1 in the direction of the arrow (FIG. 1), i.e. clockwise, will cause the stud 3 to engage the retaining or hook portion 9 of this link 8, thus pulling the latter upwards and lifting at the same time the striker 5 while compressing the spring 7.

After a predetermined angular movement of this key 1, the other stud 4 engages the link 8 (FIG. 2) and eventually deflects it, thus disengaging its retaining or hook portion 9 from the first stud 3. Consequently, the striker 5 is released and caused to hit the piezoelectric crystal 6 under pressure from the suddenly expanding spring 7 (FIG. 3) to close a conventional ingnitioncircuit not further illustrated.

When the key I is released, it is returned by spring 7 to its initial, inoperative position (FIG. 1) and the retaining or hook portion 9 of link 8 snaps back into engagement with the stud 3.

In the assembly illustrated the spring 7 bears upon an intermediate sliding member 10 engaging in turn with its upper end a cam-shaped portion 11 of key 1. Slider 10 is a camming sleeve which, like coil spring 7, partly surrounds the striker 5.

Moreover, the link 8 consists of a spring-steel wire shaped to a hairpin configuration, with the two arms of the hairpin attached to the upper end of the shank portion of striker 5 at relatively disaligned locations, whereby a certain twist is imparted to this hairpinshaped link 8 to cause its retaining portion 9 to be automatically disengaged with stud 3. The arms of the link straddle the key 1 in the region of extremity 9.

In the specific application of this arrangement to a cigarette lighter operating on gaseous fuel, the pivotal movement of control key 1 or the movement of the intermediate sliding member 10 may be utilized for controlling the opening of the gas valve by means of a lever 12 fulcrumed to a fixed pivot pin 13 and engaging from underneath the head of the burner-valve assembly 14 (FIGS. 4 and 5) to activate the fuel source constituted thereby.

Finally, it will be readily apparent to those conversant with the art that this invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown and described herein, since various modifications are possible without departing from the basic principles of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim as new is:

1. An actuating mechanism for a lighter provided with ignition means including a piezoelectric crystal, comprising:

a support;

a pivotal member fulcrumed to said support for swinging between a normal position and a working position, said member being provided with first and second projection means spaced from its fulcrum and angularly offset in its direction of pivotal movement;

a striker displaceably mounted on said support adjacent said piezoelectric crystal for contact therewith;

biasing means urging said striker into contact with said piezoelectric crystal; and

a link anchored to said striker and provided with an extremity remote from said striker engaging said first projection means in said normal position for entrainment thereby upon a swinging of said member toward said working position whereby said striker is withdrawn from said piezoelectric crystal against the force of said biasing means, said second projection means being engageable with said link upon said member approaching said working position for deflecting said link and disengaging same from said first projection means whereby said striker is driven by said biasing means against said piezoelectric crystal.

2. A mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said biasing means comprises a compression spring, further including restoring means inserted between said compression spring and said member for returning same from said working position to said normal position.

3. A mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said compression spring is coiled about said striker, said restoring means including a camming sleeve surrounding part of said striker.

4. A mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said link is a wire spring with a hook-shaped portion forming said extremity.

5. A mechanism as defined in claim 4 wherein said wire spring has two arms straddling said member in the region of said extremity, said first and second projection means being respective pairs of studs disposed on opposite sides of said member for engagement with said arms.

6. A mechanism as defined in claim 5 wherein said arms are secured to said striker at relatively disaligned locations for imparting a twist to said link facilitating its re-engagement with the first pair of studs upon a return of said member to said normal position.

7. A mechanism as defined in claim 1, further comprising a source of gaseous fuel and a mechanical coupling between said source and said member for activating said source upon disengagement of said link from said first projection means. 

1. An actuating mechanism for a lighter provided with ignition means including a piezoelectric crystal, comprising: a support; a pivotal member fulcrumed to said support for swinging between a normal position and a working position, said member being provided with first and second projection means spaced from its fulcrum and angularly offset in its direction of pivotal movement; a striker displaceably mounted on said support adjacent said piezoelectric crystal for contact therewith; biasing means urging said striker into contact with said piezoelectric crystal; and a link anchored to said striker and provided with an extremity remote from said striker engaging said first projection means in said normal position for entrainment thereby upon a swinging of said member toward said working position whereby said striker is withdrawn from said piezoelectric crystal against the force of said biasing means, said second projection means being engageable with said link upon said member approaching said working position for deflecting said link and disengaging same from said first projection means whereby said striker is driven by said biasing means against said piezoelectric crystal.
 2. A mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said biasing means comprises a compression spring, further including restoring means inserted between said compression spring and said member for returning same frOm said working position to said normal position.
 3. A mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said compression spring is coiled about said striker, said restoring means including a camming sleeve surrounding part of said striker.
 4. A mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said link is a wire spring with a hook-shaped portion forming said extremity.
 5. A mechanism as defined in claim 4 wherein said wire spring has two arms straddling said member in the region of said extremity, said first and second projection means being respective pairs of studs disposed on opposite sides of said member for engagement with said arms.
 6. A mechanism as defined in claim 5 wherein said arms are secured to said striker at relatively disaligned locations for imparting a twist to said link facilitating its re-engagement with the first pair of studs upon a return of said member to said normal position.
 7. A mechanism as defined in claim 1, further comprising a source of gaseous fuel and a mechanical coupling between said source and said member for activating said source upon disengagement of said link from said first projection means. 